Two-dimensional proteome reference map of Vibrio tapetis, the aetiological agent of brown ring disease in clams

Vibrio tapetis is the etiological agent of brown ring disease (BRD) in clams, one of the most threatening diseases affecting this commercially important bivalve. In this study we have constructed a proteome reference map of the V. tapetis type strain CECT 4600(T).

Eighty-two proteins, consistently present in all 2D-gels, were identified by mass spectrometry or by de novo sequencing. The majority of the proteins identified (66%) belonged to four COG categories: 'Carbohydrate transport and metabolism', 'Post-translational modification, protein turnover and chaperones', 'Energy production', and 'Amino acid transport and metabolism'. Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, enolase, fructose-bisphosphate aldolase, phosphoglycerate kinase. molecular chaperones Dnak and GroEL, alkyl hydroperoxide reductase, peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerase B and factor Tu, were identified among the 20 most abundant proteins. A comparison of this reference map with that obtained for the V. tapetis strain GR0202RD, with different origin and pathophysiological characteristics, was performed.

Under the culture conditions employed in this study, glucose degradation is one of the major pathways for energy production in Vibrio tapetis. In addition, the two strains studied, although with remarkable differences at genetic and pathophysiological levels, showed a high similarity under laboratory conditions.

The results obtained here can be considered as a first step to gather valuable information on protein expression, related not only to diverse cellular functions and regulation but also to pathogenesis and bacterium-host interactions in the disease process.